Calumet Refinery Megaloads

Thanks to Julian Matthews of Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) Protecting the Environment for photos of the completely assembled and prepared Calumet tar sands refinery megaload awaiting an Idaho permit and travel at the Port of Wilma near Clarkston, Washington [1].  Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) public involvement coordinator Adam Rush stated late on Friday that the Bigge Crane and Rigging/Mammoet-hauled megaload will not move from the port until late during the week of August 3 or “early” on August 11 (Sunday night?) [2].  The bottom hydrocracker section, attempting Highway 95 and 200 passage across Idaho to Great Falls, already received an ITD permit for unused July 27 to 31 transport (so it could obtain a Washington permit?), according to ITD public records received by Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) on Thursday [3].  It represents the heaviest and longest, climate- and Earth-wrecking, fossil fuel machine to ever cross our region, weighing 1,605,152 pounds and stretching out 441 feet long, 28 feet wide, and 16 feet, 4 inches high.

On Monday afternoon, August 4, one of WIRT’s amazing Montana allies posted a question on the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) website and received this polite and prompt reply: “Thank you for visiting our website and your inquiry concerning Mammoet Company or Bigge Crane and Rigging.  They have been working through the process, and no permits have been issued at this time.”  In his email reply, our friend asked MDT’s Dan Kiely if he could please notify him if MDT grants a permit for this megaload.  He is also keeping his Flathead Reservation tribal council friends and other neighbors apprised of the situation.  WIRT will issue a report and petition on this issue this week…

Idaho Oil and Gas Rules

Idaho Concerned Area Residents for the Environment, Idaho Residents Against Gas Extraction, and Wild Idaho Rising Tide harbor myriad concerns about the proposed, draft Idaho oil and gas rules as currently rewritten at four June and July 2014 negotiated rulemaking sessions at the Capitol in Boise.  With the assistance of an attorney, we compiled and submitted extensive comments on these rules, but unfortunately, we did not finish these endeavors in time to share them with all of you to support your comments [4].  As demonstrated by regulator discussion and behavior at these recently-concluded sessions, we believe that state commissions and agencies will largely ignore our requests for stronger IDAPA 20.07.02 rules that could significantly improve protections of Idahoans’ democratic participation, property rights, and air and water quality.  As the Idaho Department of Lands presents these rule changes, governing development of the state’s modest oil and gas play, to the Idaho Oil and Gas Conservation Commission on Tuesday, August 5, we assume that decision makers may once again favor industry over the best interests of Idaho citizens.  Although the proposed rules will again undergo (YOUR!) public scrutiny through a hearing and 21-day comment period in early September 2014, we suspect that few citizen-suggested alterations will occur before commission approval and Idaho Legislature consideration and enactment.

Spokane Rising Tide Legislative Candidate

Spokane Rising Tide co-founder and Occupy Spokane activist Ziggy Siegfried, a progressive, socially and environmentally responsible, nominal Democrat, is running for office [5]!  If you live in the sixth legislative district in Spokane, Washington, Monday and Tuesday, August 4 and 5, offer your last opportunities to write-in Ziggy as your Position 2 State Representative and send in your Washington primary election ballot.  Ziggy only needs 400 write-in votes by the August 5 deadline, to qualify for the November general election and win a seat at the Capitol in Olympia.  Last month, the Spokesman-Review reported [6]:

Sixth District’s Representative Holy Faces Write-In Challenger

Democrat Ziggy Siegfried has submitted his candidacy to run as a write-in against incumbent Republican Jeff Holy for Sixth District state representative.

Siegfried was born in Spokane and lived in Seattle for 16 years, before returning to his hometown in 2001.  He does maintenance at the Washington State University Spokane campus, and also does landscaping work.

He has been a longtime activist who was involved in the Occupy Spokane movement, and said he aims to “have a regular working person represent the working people.”

Since Siegfried did not file to run against Holy by the May deadline, only Holy’s name will appear on the primary ballot.  However, if Siegfried, the write-in candidate, gets one percent or more of the primary vote, he will earn a place against Holy on the November ballot.

Siegfried paid a $421 filing fee last month, allowing him to become an official write-in candidate.

Fight or Flight Northern Rockies Tour Workshop (excerpted)

August 4 Climate Justice Forum: Justin Kay of Fight or Flight Tour (excerpted)

[1] Untitled Photo Post (August 2, 2014 Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment)

[2] Evening Report – Tar Sands (August 1, 2014 KRFP Radio Free Moscow)

[3] ITD Highway 95 and 200 Megaload Public Records 7-31-14 (July 31, 2014 Wild Idaho Rising Tide)

[4] Comments on Proposed Negotiated Idaho Oil and Gas Rules (August1, 2014 Wild Idaho Rising Tide)

[5] Ziggy Siegfried for Sixth District State Representative (D) (Friends of Ziggy)

[6] Sixth District Senate Campaign Likely Another Expensive Race (July 14, 2014 Spokesman-Review)